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Ill. missile launch site up for auction

RED BUD, Illinois (KSDK) - It's a chance to buy a piece of Cold War history. An old missile launch site in Red Bud, Ill. is up for auction. The bidding starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Hecker Community

Ill. missile launch site up for auction

RED BUD, Illinois (KSDK) - It's a chance to buy a piece of Cold War history.

An old missile launch site in Red Bud, Ill. is up for auction. The bidding starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Hecker Community Center.

The minimum opening bid is $70,000.

The old Nike Missile launch site was established in the late 1950s and closed in 1969. According to the auction company's website, it was one of four locations around St. Louis that served as a missile defense site, armed with Nike Hercules Missiles.

After closing in 1969, the site was used by the Career Center of Southern Illinois. The 14-acre site features three bunkers that were used to store the missiles. Wayne Keller, who works with the auction company (buyafarm.com), said he's received several inquiries about the property from people all over the country.